Interchangeable sign



Oct'. 11,1927. F. MOYNIHAN INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN Filed Nov. v22. 1924 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

Oct. 11, 1927,

F. MoYNlHvAN' INTERGHANGEABLE ASIGN Filed Nov. 22, 1924 2 Smets-sheet .2

@C v I y jizz/57%?" Pa'enaa oa. 11,1927'.

UNITED srATEs 1,644,742 PATENT OFFICE.

FREE MoYNmAN, or CHICAGO, rumors.

INTERCHANGEABE SIGN.

Appuation mea November 22,1924. serial No. 751,443.

4My .invention relates generally to interchangeable signs and more particularly to interchangeable signs having displaceable supporting units which may be positioned toreceive display material of a variety ofl sizes and kinds.

The primary object of the invention isa provision of an interchangeable sign which is adapted to display letters andlpicturcs of various dimensions. f

Anotherobject of the' invention is a provision of a sign i-n which the subject matter may be easily changed. f

A still further object of the invention is the provision of -an interchangeable sign which prominently sets forth the subject matter thereon both during the day and nighttime.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be obvious upon. perusal of the accompanying drawing and this specification based thereon.4 It is to be under- '\on an enlarged scale as on the line 3--3 of Fig..1; v

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary elevation illustrating the means for connecting the retaining frame to the body of the sign;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view, -partially broken away, of one of the letter sup- /porting units;

Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating a modification of the construction disclosed 'in Fig. 5.

Fig.,7 is a detailed perspective viewfof one of the letter blocks is broken away, of. a modified form of sign embodying the invention;

Fig. 9 is the vertical section 9-9 of Fig. v8; V

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation'of the construction asshown in Fig. 8. i

Referring to the drawings Ain detail, the numeral 1 designates a reflector box which on the` Aline comprises a substantially flatback portion having side walls integral therewith and extending at obtuse angles therefrom and adapted to properly distribute the light from the illuminating element 2 over the face of the sign. To insure proper reiiection of the light 1 the interior of the reflector box is enameled white. The illuminating element 2 comprises asocket 3 wherein the usual electric 'light bulbs 4 are seated. Retaining members 5 and .6, affixed to the back ofthe reflector box, are employed for securing the illuminating element in position. A current supply conductor 7 is\ut'ilized for the light bulbs 4. Ventilation is provided by the passage of air currents through holes 8 located in the sidewalls of the reector box 1. Associated with the reflector box 1 is a base frame 9 which is retained in rigid. relation thereto by screws 10. Aifixed to the base Aframe 9 is a supporting frame 11 which is secured thereon by screws 12. The said sup.- porting frame 11 has a rabbet 13 around the inner perimeter thereof for the reception of a light diffusing element 14, preferably in the form of translucent glass. The plate of said translucent glass is .retained in position byanchor pla-tes'l whichv overlap the edges of said glass and also form a part of a supporting unit, as shown'in Fig. 5, being fas-4 tened to the supportingframe 11 by screws \16. The supporting units referred to each comprise two or Imore supporting strips 17 and the rectangular anchor Vplates 15 referred to, which plates are attached to the ends of the supporting strips 17, referably by soldering the same thereto. ne of the plates 15 is applied to each end of a pair vof the strips 17, extending crosswise thereof,

'and is of sufficient dimension tov afford a relatively largesurface of contact with the supporting frame 11. The said supportin strips 17 are composed of two U-shapc channel members 19 positioned back to back,vv

anda facing strip 20, the longitudinal marginal portions of which are bent over the lfront flanges ofthe channel members givingl Fig. 8 is the plan view, a portion of which a ,finished surface to the completed strip which is substantially H-shaped in crosssection.

.The supporting units are`V arranged on the supporting frame 11 in 1such fashion as to accommodate the display matter to be mounted therein, and secured thereto by the screws 16 `'which pass through the holes 18 p provided 'in the anchoring plates'15. To

prevent the display matter from sliding endwise out ofy a vsupporting unit, a retaining v frame 23 is provided which is 'rabbetedat its inner face and at the edge 24 to receive the end ortions of the supporting units, and'said rame 23 is mounted upon the supportingl frame 11 and fastened theretov by.

the hooks 25. Each of said hooks is pivotally mounted on a screw 26 and adapted to.

engage a catch 27 as shown' in detail in Fig. 4.'. a The letter blocks 21 shown 1n Figs. 1 and 7 are composed of a transparent substance, preferably plate lass, to which 1s a'ixed one .betweenthe supporting strips 17 of the respective units, in accordance with the matter to be displayed The retaining frame 23 thereupon is applied to the supporting frame and fastened thereto by the hooks 25|.

When it is desired to display pictures, or

other subject-matter than that formedby the letter display, a sullicient number of the supporting units may be omitted, and such other matter is a plied tothe translucent panel 14 and suita ly held in lace thereon.

If it be desired to change-t e display effected by the letter blocks 21, it is merely necessar to remove the -retaining frame 23, after w ich the letter blocks may be removed endwise from the supporting units and changed to accord with the new subjectmatter to be presented. This ready change o f Ithe letter blocks affords the highly de'- sirable characteristic of, interchangeability to the sign structure, and increases the` latitude of its use rfor advertising.

l When it becomes necessary to have access -to the reflector box, as in the form lshown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the retaining frame is removed and the screws 12 taken out, whereupon the supporting frame 11 may be taken -o without disturbing the makeup of the sign and complete access had to the reflector box and illuminating element.

o fthe reflector box 31 have marginal portions 32 bent upon themselves. The marginal portions 33 bein formed at an obtuse angle on back 34 are v slmilar to marginal portions 32 but oppositeent upon themselves ly dis osed relative thereto and are adapted to sli ably intert therewith. Top wall 35 Vil provided with opening 36.` Illuminating taining element 37 is mounted in the back 34 and is v by which the lslidable back 34 may be conveniently operated to. withdraw or insert'the illuminating element 37. Cover plate v38 is 'l slightly larger than opening 36. Vlhen the back 34 is-in a closed position cover plate 38 will abut against wall 35 ofy the reector box entirely covering opening 36 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8 in which position illuminating element 37 will be properly positioned. A partially opened position ofthe back 34 is indicated by dot-ted lines in Fig. 9

and shows the illuminating element 37 about to pass thru opening 36.

It will be observedv 1n described and illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, that the necessity of base frame 9 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is dispensed with as the illuminating element is accessible from the the construction last back of the sign. The supporting frame 11 is therefore directly attached to reflector box 31 by screws 10.

The sign has the distinct advantage that Athe display material supporting units are displaceable and may be arranged to support letter blocks of practically any dimensions. Furthermore the sign shows up the material display thereon in an attractive manner and causes the same to stand out clearly during the daytime and the"illuminating element prominently setsit forth at night.

I claim:

1. In `an interchangeable the com- I bination with a reflector box, of an illuminating element mounted inxsaid box,'a supporting frame mounted on saidA box, supporting units comprising a plurality'of channel bars secured at their yends to anchor plates, said anchor platesbeing adapted to be displaceably mounted on said supporting frame, display material adapted to be inserted between said channel bars, and a reframe -mounted on said supporting frame and adapted to cover the -end portions of said supporting units.

2. In an interchangeable sign, the comlos bination of a reflector box, means Afor illuminating said reflector box, a supporting frame mounted thereon, supporting units displace- In the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 rearwardly extending side walls 30` ably mounted on said supporting frame, display material adapted for insertion in and vbetween said supporting units, and a retaining-frame mounted on said supporting frame and covering the end portions ofsaid Supporting units. I

3. .In an interchangeable sign, the combination of a reflector box an illuminating` I element mounted in said reflector boxfa supporting frame mounted thereon, said supporting frame being rabbeted around the for insertion between said supporting units, inner perimeter thereof, a light diiusin eleand a retaining frame mounted upon the l0 ment adapted to be mounted in the rab eted said supporting frame and covering the end portion of the supporting frame, supporting portions ofthe said supporting units.

units displaceably mounted on said support- In testimony whereof lI have hereunto subing frame, said supporting units comprising scribed my name.

a pair of anchor plates and channel bars n c mounted thereon, display material adapted p FREE MOYNIHAN., 

